Agricultural and Forest Entomology (2020) 22, 1-9

Davide Rassati, Mario Contarini, Christopher M. Ranger, Giacomo Cavaletto, Luca Rossini, Stefano Speranza, Massimo Faccoli and Lorenzo Marini (2020)
Fungal pathogen and ethanol affect host selection and colonization success in ambrosia beetles
Agricultural and Forest Entomology 22 (1), 1-9
Abstract: - Ambrosia beetles exhibit broad host ranges but a narrow preference based on the condition of the host. Tissues infected by pathogens or containing ethanol can facilitate attacks by ambrosia beetles, although it still remains unclear how these factors interact.
- The present study aimed to examine how (i) chestnut logs infected with the fungal pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica and treated with ethanol (i.e. baited with ethanol lure, soaked in ethanol or untreated) and (ii) hornbeam logs soaked in different ethanol concentrations (3–12.5%) affect host selection and colonization success of ambrosia beetles.
- Ethanol-soaked logs were more attractive to Anisandrus dispar than ethanol-baited logs or untreated logs, although this difference was more evident in uninfected than infected logs. Increasing ethanol concentration in host tissues was differentially attractive to Xyleborinus saxesenii and Xylosandrus germanus. A nonlinear relationship was also documented between ethanol concentration and emergence of X. germanus adults.
- Overall, the results obtained suggest that the presence of C. parasitica in chestnut logs can affect host selection in ambrosia beetles. In addition, the ethanol concentration in tree tissues affects host selection and colonization success, although the effect varies depending on the beetle species. This contrasting response could be a niche-partitioning mechanism based on ethanol within host tissues.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Davide Rassati, Mario Contarini, Stefano Speranza, Massimo Faccoli, Lorenzo Marini

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Xyleborinus saxeseni
	Xylosandrus germanus